Chapter 226 - 168: Hard Case

Chapter 226: Chapter 168: Hard Case

In the arena.

Only Lu Changfeng and Jiang Changge immediately noticed how at ease Ren Xiong was.

Among the other renowned experts, very few had comprehended the second stage of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent.

The few who had comprehended the first stage of Advanced Sword Intent could only faintly discern that Ren Xiong’s strength seemed superior.

For the three stages of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent, the power amplification from each stage far surpassed the one before it.

Currently, Lu Changfeng’s Advanced Fengtian Saber Intent—comprehended by his clone, Yang Jingtian—had barely reached the second stage after much practice.

His Advanced Death Sword Intent, meanwhile, was still only at the first stage.

His first-stage Death Sword Intent only offered a five-hundred-percent boost.

In contrast, his second-stage Fengtian Saber Intent provided a boost of eight hundred percent.

The difference between them was immense.

As for the third stage of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent, Lu Changfeng had yet to reach it.

However, based on Pei Yuanshi’s performance, he could get a rough idea: it was a level capable of contending with a Martial Arts Law.

The exchange of moves using Visualization Sword Intent was incredibly intimidating, as if two mythological figures were battling.

The clash of Sword Intent between Ren Xiong and the Streamlight Swordsman lasted for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea. In the end, just as Lu Changfeng had expected, the Streamlight Swordsman was the first to concede.

Ren Xiong retracted his Sword Intent, looking utterly relaxed.

The Streamlight Swordsman stepped forward and cupped his fist in respect. "Sect Master Ren, you are truly formidable," he praised.

Ren Xiong waved a hand, but he couldn’t hide the pride on his face.

The two returned to the pavilion together.

Jiang Changge’s eyes lit up as he approached them. "Sect Master Ren," he said, "your Advanced Sword Intent has already reached the second stage, hasn’t it?"

Hearing this, Ren Xiong glanced at Jiang Changge with admiration. ’As expected of someone from a Major Sect.’

Not many people knew about the three stages of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent.

’Then again,’ Ren Xiong mused, ’Li Zongdao of the Divine Sword Sect was an expert who reached the third stage of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent. It’s not surprising that Jiang Changge would know about it.’

"You’re right, Sword God. My Advanced Sword Intent has indeed reached the second stage," Ren Xiong admitted openly.

Many of the swordsmen present were striving to visualize their Sword Intent and comprehend Advanced Martial Arts True Intent.

However, they were completely unaware that Advanced Martial Arts True Intent even had stages.

Jiang Changge began to explain to the surrounding swordsmen, "Advanced Martial Arts True Intent has three stages in total. According to my late master, Li Zongdao, these three stages are a process of deepening one’s understanding of oneself and one’s Martial Arts True Intent."

"I’m ashamed to say that I am still only at the first stage of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent. Therefore, I cannot describe the experience of advancing through its stages to all of you."

With Jiang Changge setting such a fine example, Ren Xiong no longer held back. After all, he was the only swordsman present who had demonstrated the second stage of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent.

"The Sword God’s master was truly worthy of his title as a third-stage expert. His description of the stages of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent is so precise that even I have benefited greatly from it."

Ren Xiong then briefly described his own process of elevating his Martial Arts True Intent from the first to the second stage.

Ren Xiong admitted he was hazy on the details of the process himself. It had happened spontaneously one day while he was practicing his sword on a high mountain peak.

After the transformation, Ren Xiong found that the power he could wield with his Sword Intent had increased dramatically, becoming incomparable to what it was before.

Sometime after, he fought a major battle against Lii Tianxing, the Profound Nether Sect Master. In the end, he beat Lii Tianxing so soundly that the Sect Master was forced to use a Light Body Technique to flee.

"That sounds like the result of relentless practice, combined with a stroke of luck related to his Talent," Lu Changfeng commented softly.

Zhao Xingtian, at his side, also nodded.

’I need to add Martial Arts True Intent cultivation to my training regimen.’

’I’ve been slacking off a bit lately because of my huge power jump. This isn’t a good sign.’

’From now on, in addition to raising my Realm, I have to diligently practice my Saber and Sword Intent every day.’

The swordsmen all thanked Ren Xiong for sharing his experience.

Everyone was thinking the same thing: this Sword Discussion Conference was more than worth it. Martial Arts Law, the three stages of Advanced Martial Arts True Intent... this was a level of knowledge they would never normally have access to.

After Ren Xiong and the Streamlight Swordsman, the next several matches were all duels between Bone Refining Realm swordsmen.

These Bone Refining Realm swordsmen had only mastered a substantive form of Intermediate Sword Intent, and watching them made Lu Changfeng drowsy.

Around noon, a serving girl brought some refreshments to the pavilion.

Those present were all powerful Martial Artists possessing profound Inner Strength—or even True Energy and Spiritual Power. Going a few days without food was no issue for them.

The boredom continued until it was Xu Fan’s turn.

As one of the representatives of the Saint Demon Sect at this Sword Discussion Conference, Xu Fan naturally attracted quite a bit of attention.

Xu Fan took the initiative and challenged a swordsman from a Martial Arts Family to a duel.

This Martial Arts Family was the Yun Family, which was originally from Cyan Mountain Prefecture.

After Cyan Mountain Prefecture was occupied by Demon Dao Influence.

The Yun Family had hidden away in the deep mountains and only recently relocated to Sword City.

In truth, the Yun Family was not weak. Their ancestor, Yun Tiankong, was an expert with a Rebirth Realm’s Primordial Spirit Body.

It was just that in these chaotic times, many clans and sects like the Yun Family chose to retreat into the mountains and live in seclusion, avoiding worldly strife.

It was simply a choice, nothing more.

Lu Changfeng compared their profiles.

Name: Xu Fan

Root Bone: Upper A Class

Talent: High-Grade Talent [Sword Heart]

Bloodline Talent: [Ancient Moon-devouring Demon 11%]

----

Name: Yun Tiankong

Root Bone: Upper A Class

Talents: High-Grade Talent [Sword Spirit], High-Grade Talent [Sword Soul]

Yun Tiankong’s profile caught Lu Changfeng’s attention.

Sword Soul and Sword Spirit were both High-Grade Sword Dao Talents that Lu Changfeng had never seen before.

Furthermore, possessing two Martial Talents of the same type meant that Yun Tiankong’s chances of comprehending a Martial Arts Law were far greater than an ordinary person’s.

Yun Tiankong had no Bloodline Talent.

’Yun Tiankong likely relied on these dual Sword Dao Talents to break through to the Rebirth Realm.’

’This fellow... his strength is far from ordinary!’

Lu Changfeng gave Xu Fan a heads-up. "You’ve picked a tough opponent. You might lose, and lose badly."

Xu Fan raised an eyebrow. He didn’t doubt Lu Changfeng was just talking, though. He simply assumed that someone from the Law Enforcement Demon Sect would have his own intelligence network.

"If I lose, I lose," Xu Fan said, surprisingly nonchalant. "I’m just a grunt from the Saint Demon Sect anyway. We specialize in sabers, not swords."

Waving a hand at Lu Changfeng, Xu Fan entered the martial arts arena, followed shortly by Yun Tiankong.

"I am Xu Fan, currently one of the Ten Great Demon Generals of the Saint Demon Sect. I cultivate the Moon Concealing Secret Manual."

Xu Fan announced slowly. The weapon in his hand was a Treasure Longsword; it was a fine blade, but not noteworthy enough to mention.

Yun Tiankong was an old man with a head of white hair and a matching beard, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies. Like all Rebirth Realm experts, however, his skin was remarkably smooth.

"I never thought the former Sect Master of the Moon Concealing Sect would choose to join the Saint Demon Sect," Yun Tiankong remarked with a sigh.

Xu Fan polished his Treasure Longsword. "A wise man chooses a worthy master to serve. There’s nothing unusual about it."

Yun Tiankong nodded in agreement. "I am Yun Tiankong, Patriarch of the Yun Family from Cyan Mountain Prefecture. I cultivate my family’s ancestral technique, the Cloud Sword Technique."